State elections official honors Marin voters

Marin County got a salute from California Secretary of State Debra Bowen on Tuesday for posting the highest voter turnout in California's November election.

Bowen presented a framed "symbol of the great seal of the great state of California" to board president Judy Arnold.

"It's an incredible accomplishment," Bowen said of the county's 87.37 percent voter turnout, lauding the work of county elections staff who leave "no room for error" and marveling at the political engagement of Marin voters.

"It's always good to stop and recognize what a vital privilege we have" in a democracy, Arnold said.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom was supposed to honor the county last month, but bowed out of an award presentation at the last minute to tend to state business.

Registrar of Voters Elaine Ginnold noted the last time Marin turnout was tops in the state was in 1952, when 90.25 percent of the voters went to the polls. The county's highest turnout was 90.8 percent in November 2008.